State Board to hold community meetings on accountability, grad requirements
The State Board of Education will hold three community meetings this coming week on two key initiatives currently in progress – one to revise state high school graduation requirements, the other to establish a statewide accountability system for K-12 education. The meetings, which will include time for feedback from the public, will be held in Spokane (June 2), Yakima (June 3) and Seattle (June 4). Detailed information regarding the meetings and topics to be discussed is available on the SBE Web site.

Class of 2008 update coming June 3
There's been plenty of media attention this past week as districts around the state receive information about how many of their students in the Class of 2008 have met state assessment requirements for graduation. The next wave comes Tuesday, June 3, when Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson will provide a statewide perspective on those numbers. Bergeson's briefing will be provided through a live broadcast and Webcast from TVW starting at 10 a.m. OSPI is also working on K-20 videoconference access to the broadcast. Check the OSPI Web site for more information.

School directors urge flexibility at NCLB hearing
It's not often we see our region selected by the "other" Washington as a site for hearings on federal rule changes. With that in mind, school directors were on hand bright and early as the U.S. Department of Education convened a hearing in Seattle this past month to seek comments on proposed administrative changes to the No Child Left Behind Act. The bottom line for WSSDA members: More flexibility, less punishment. Learn more here…

Enter now for WSSDA's Boards of the Year, Diversity Awards
Has your school board made exemplary progress in leading the way for student achievement? Is your district on the cutting edge in promoting inclusion and diversity awareness? If so, consider submitting an application for WSSDA's prestigious Boards of the Year and Diversity Awards. These two awards programs recognize outstanding accomplishments by school boards and districts, accomplishments which can serve as promising practices for districts around the state. For information and online applications, visit the WSSDA Web site.

Student entertainment sought for Annual Conference
Schools throughout our state are blessed with a rich array of student talent — talent we'd like to showcase at the WSSDA Annual Conference in Spokane this November. If you have a school-based group of student entertainers who would like to perform at one of Washington's largest education conferences, please let us know. Complete details are available on our Annual Conference Web site.

WSSDA partners with UW on workshop for school directors
WSSDA and the University of Washington's Center for Educational Leadership are joining up to offer a special two-day workshop for school directors this August. The workshop – "Leading an Agenda for Student Achievement Centering on Equity and Instructional Improvement" – will be held Aug. 1-2 at the Puget Sound Educational Service District in Renton. The workshop is focused on what school board members need to know to provide equitable outcomes for all students. Workshop details and registration are available on the CEL Web site.

Got training?
Speaking of workshops, now is the time to plan your in-district board training for the coming year. WSSDA offers an array of customizable workshops, led by professional trainers, that are held right in your district. Topics include team building, board-superintendent relations, governance, community engagement, and much more. For more information, contact WSSDA Leadership Development Director Phil Gore at 800/562-8927.

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